Cochlear hearing device with cable antenna

Abstract

A hearing aid device comprising a behind-the-ear part, an at-the-head part, a coupling element, a second antenna, and a wireless interface is disclosed. The behind-the-ear part is adapted for being arranged at an ear of a user and for providing a low frequency signal comprising audio. The at-the-head part is adapted for being arranged at the head of the user. The at-the-head part includes a first antenna adapted to communicate with an implant part comprising at least one cochlear electrode adapted for being arranged in the cochlea in proximity of an auditory nerve of the user. The coupling element couples the behind-the-ear part and the at-the-head part and is adapted for transmitting the low frequency signal comprising audio to the at-the-head part. The second antenna is adapted for communicating at high frequency with an external unit. The wireless interface is adapted for receiving and/or sending data via the second antenna. The at-the-head part is adapted for providing the low frequency signal comprising audio to the at least one cochlear electrode. The at least one cochlear electrode is adapted for converting the low frequency signal comprising audio to an output signal perceivable by a user as sound. The coupling element comprises an electrically conducting element coupled to the wireless interface. The electrically conducting element is at least a part of the second antenna and adapted for transferring the signal comprising audio at a low frequency from the behind-the-ear part to the at-the-head part and for transmitting and/or receiving high frequency signals via the second antenna.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hearing device comprising:
 a behind-the-ear part adapted for being arranged at an ear of a user and for providing a low frequency signal comprising sequences of pulses for stimulation of at least one cochlear electrode in an implant part, the sequences of pulses being in dependence on current input sound, 
 an at-the-head part adapted for being arranged at a location on the head of the user, wherein the at-the-head part includes an inductive coupler adapted to inductively communicate with the implant part comprising at least one cochlear electrode adapted for being arranged in the cochlea of the user in proximity of an auditory nerve of the user, 
 a mechanical coupling element mechanically coupling the behind-the-ear part and the at-the-head part, wherein the coupling element comprises an electrically conductive part configured to transmit the low frequency signal comprising sequences of pulses from the behind-the-ear part to the at-the-head part, 
 a high frequency antenna configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals at high frequency, the high frequency antenna being in electrical connection with a wireless interface for digitally receiving and/or transmitting data via the high frequency antenna, 
 wherein at least part of the high frequency antenna is arranged in the behind-the-ear part, and the electrically conducting part is at least a part of the high frequency antenna, such that the high-frequency antenna is configured as a combination of a first part formed in the behind-the-ear part and a second part formed in the electrically conducting part. 
 
     
     
       2. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the behind-the-ear part comprises a casing which is at least partly formed as a hook with a hollow inner space and wherein at least part of the high frequency antenna arranged in the behind-the-ear part is at least partly arranged in the hollow inner space of the hook. 
     
     
       3. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the high frequency antenna is an electrically short antenna. 
     
     
       4. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first antenna communicates with the implant part via mutual induction between coils of the first antenna and the implant part. 
     
     
       5. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises two balanced wires for transmitting the low frequency signal to the at-the-head part, wherein the electrically conducting element comprises the wires. 
     
     
       6. Hearing device according to  claim 5 , wherein the wireless interface is coupled to the electrically conducting element via a high-pass filter, wherein the wireless interface is coupled to the high-pass filter via a balun and wherein the high-pass filter is coupled to the wires via respective capacitors, wherein the behind-the-ear part includes a low-pass filter in the path of the low frequency signal. 
     
     
       7. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface is adapted for receiving and/or sending data by means of radio frequency signals in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 100 GHz, and wherein the wireless interface is optionally adapted for receiving and/or sending data according to a communication standard. 
     
     
       8. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conducting element constitutes a first part of the high frequency antenna and at least part of the high frequency antenna arranged in the behind-the-ear part constitutes a second part, and a feed point to the high frequency antenna is between the first and second part of the high frequency antenna. 
     
     
       9. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the high frequency antenna arranged in the behind-the-ear part has a radiation pattern resembling a monopole or wire antenna which has a form that depends on a desired radio frequency. 
     
     
       10. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the high frequency antenna arranged in the behind-the-ear part is a loop antenna or at least a part of the high frequency antenna arranged in the behind-the-ear part is a spiral antenna. 
     
     
       11. Hearing device according to  claim 9 , wherein the part of the high frequency antenna arranged in the behind-the-ear part is coupled to the wireless interface via a balun or a matching network which is adapted to tune the high frequency antenna to a desired radio frequency. 
     
     
       12. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the high frequency antenna covers at least a part of the outside surface of the hearing device. 
     
     
       13. Hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the high frequency antenna covers at least part of the outside surface of the hook of the behind-the-ear part.